Four incumbent Democrats facing challengers in state Senate contests

Greater Lowell's five state Senate seats are up for grabs Tuesday, including four Democrats seeking re-election and a fight for the seat being left by the retiring Susan Fargo of Lincoln.

The open seat, in the 3rd Middlesex District, which stretches from Chelmsford to Weston, will go to either Democrat Mike Barrett of Lexington or Republican Sandi Martinez of Chelmsford. Their jobs -- both are information-technology consultants -- and ages -- both are 64 -- are about all they have in common.

The two have vastly different views on everything from taxes and the role of government to same-sex marriage and ballot questions that would legalize life-ending medicine and medical marijuana. Both said late last week they were busy gearing up for Election Day and were confident about their chances.

"It feels good," said Martinez, who is spending the final days before the election attending rallies, passing out leaflets in parking lots and knocking on doors. It is difficult to know for sure how voters will decide, she said, "but we're feeling pretty good."

"We're going forward. We're working hard, and it feels really good," she said.

Barrett said his campaign has had close coordination with the campaigns of U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren and President Obama. They have been identifying registered Democrats who didn't vote in the last presidential election or in this year's primary and either calling or going to their door to urge them to vote on Tuesday, he said.

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Barrett, a state legislator from 1978 to '94, called himself "cautiously optimistic" that he'll beat Martinez, who challenged Fargo in the past three elections.

In the 1st Middlesex District, which covers six communities including Lowell, Tyngsboro and Westford, Democrat Eileen Donoghue of Lowell is seeking her second term in the Senate. Her challenger is James Buba, a Republican from Lowell who most recently worked as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service.

Donoghue said she's been very busy in the days leading up to the election, including standing out at busy intersections with supporters. Friday was the coldest day yet to be out early in the morning, she said.

"The last days of the campaign are crazy, let's put it that way," Donoghue said. She's confident she'll win re-election, she said.

"But I never take anything for granted. That's why we've worked hard since day one of this campaign."

Buba, an Air Force veteran, also said he likes his chances. "It only takes one vote," he said. "I got a good chance."

Buba, who also ran against Donoghue two years ago, has been outspoken on many of his conservative views, including when he brought a Chick-fil-A cup to a Sun-sponsored debate to support the chain's opposition to same-sex marriage. He's also railed against government overspending and has criticized funding of arts programs, something that has been somewhat of a priority for Donoghue.

In the 2nd Essex and Middlesex District Senate race, incumbent Barry Finegold, an Andover Democrat, is being challenged by Andover Republican Paul Adams, currently the state representative for the 17th Essex House District. The 2nd Essex and Middlesex District also includes Dracut, Lawrence and Tewksbury.

Finegold, who is seeking his second term in the position, said he is sending in a large number of volunteers to all the communities for increased visibility over the weekend. He said hopes the voters will see him as an independent thinker who gets jobs done in bipartisan manners. Finegold stressed his experience of working with Senator Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, a Gloucester Republican, to successfully freeze unemployment insurance rate, as well as his focus on skill training for laid off workers, adding that voters are most interested in the candidates' job creation strategies.

Finegold, a 41-year-old attorney, said he will canvass across the communities and also spend a lot of time in Dracut and Tewksbury, which are part of the district. The 2nd Essex and Middlesex District also includes Andover and Lawrence.

Adams, 31, did not return The Sun's calls seeking comments on his final campaign activities.

The 4th Middlesex Senate District, which stretches from Billerica and Burlington to Arlington, has been represented by Arlington resident Kenneth Donnelly since 2009. His challenger is Gerry Dembrowski, a chiropractor from Woburn.

Donnelly said he planned to spend the final weekend before the election talking to voters and getting ready for the election. On Friday he attended a forum that included a discussion of the economic effects of the Hanscom Air Force Base, which sits just outside the district.

Debrowski has been visiting senior centers in every town, he said, and will spend the weekend at soccer and football games to talk with voters.

"I thanked people at the senior center in Burlington this week for putting up with me all those times I visited and interrupted their bingo games," Debrowski said. "I went to the gun clubs and thanked the boards and members for letting me come in. I told them -- together we'll make a difference."

Debrowski said he wishes he was able to debate Donnelly, saying "I always enjoy taking on an adversary."

In the Middlesex and Worcester District, incumbent Democrat Jamie Eldridge of Acton is being challenged by Republican Dean Cavaretta, also from Acton. Both have battled in debates seeking the seat, which in Greater Lowell includes Acton, Ayer and Littleton.

Eldridge, seeking a third Senate term, has touted his support for local aid for schools, environmental protection and an expanded commuter rail station in Littleton. Cavaretta has criticized Eldridge for his support of the failed Evergreen Solar, which received public subsidies, and what he said was Eldridge's close voting record with Democratic Senate President Therese Murray.

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